Wood Thrush | Audubon Field Guide

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Open Search Bird GuideThrushesWood Thrush Listen 5 Wood Thrush Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina At a Glance Range & Identification Behavior Conservation Explore More Back to Top

At a Glance

Seemingly not as shy as the other brown thrushes, not as bold as the Robin, the Wood Thrush seems intermediate between those two related groups. It sometimes nests in suburbs and city parks, and it is still common in many eastern woodlands, where its flutelike songs add music to summer mornings. However, numbers of Wood Thrushes have declined seriously in recent decades, focusing the attention of conservationists on the problems facing our migratory birds. All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Category Perching Birds, Thrushes IUCN Status Near Threatened Habitat Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets Region California, Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, Western Canada Behavior Direct Flight Population 12.000.000

Range & Identification

Migration & Range Maps

Migrates mostly at night. Many migrate across Gulf of Mexico in spring and fall.

Description

8" (20 cm). Round black spots on white chest. Brown above, shading to reddish brown on head; bold eye-ring. Stronger markings than other brown thrushes. Brown Thrasher striped (not spotted) has yellow eyes, longer tail. Size About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow Color Black, Brown, Red, White Wing Shape Pointed Tail Shape Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

A series of rich, melodious, flute-like phrases; call a sharp pit-pit-pit-pit. Call Pattern Rising Call Type Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Flute, Trill, Whistle

Habitat

Mainly deciduous woodlands. Breeds in the understory of woodlands, mostly deciduous but sometimes mixed, in areas with tall trees. More numerous in damp forest and near streams than in drier woods; will nest in suburban areas where there are enough large trees. In migration, found in various kinds of woodland. Winters in understory of lowland tropical forest. Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Wood Thrush Email Zip Phone (optional) By submitting my mobile number I agree to receive text messages from Audubon at 42248 about how I can help birds, including donation requests. Up to 4 msgs/month. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP for more information. Text STOP to stop receiving messages. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Behavior

Eggs

Usually 3-4. Pale greenish blue, unmarked. Incubation is by female only, 13-14 days.

Young

Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 12 days after hatching. 1-2 broods per year.

Feeding Behavior

Forages mostly on ground, usually in forest undergrowth but occasionally on open lawns. Will use its bill to flip leaf-litter aside as it seeks insects. Feeds on berries up in shrubs and trees.

Diet

Mostly insects and berries. Feeds on many insects, especially in breeding season, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, crickets, moths, and many others; also spiders, earthworms, and snails. Berries and small fruits are eaten at all seasons. Young are fed mostly insects but also some berries.

Nesting

Male arrives first on breeding grounds, establishes territory, and defends it by singing. Often reacts aggressively to other thrushes in territory, such as Robin or Veery. In courtship, male may chase female in fast circular flights among the trees. Nest: Placed in vertical fork of tree (usually deciduous) or saddled on horizontal branch, usually about 10-15' above the ground, sometimes lower, rarely as high as 50'. Nest (built by female) is rather like Robin's nest, an open cup of grass, leaves, moss, weeds, bark strips, mixed with mud; has lining of soft material such as rootlets. Often adds pieces of white paper or other trash to nest.

Conservation

Conservation Status

Numbers have declined seriously in recent decades. Cowbirds lay many eggs in their nests, so the thrushes often raise mainly cowbirds, with few young of their own. As forests are cut into smaller fragments, it apparently becomes easier for cowbirds to penetrate these small woodlots and find more of the thrush nests. The Wood Thrush is probably also losing wintering habitat in the tropics. Change in Abundance Over Time Drawing on more than a century of community science from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), this chart shows how this species’ relative abundance has shifted in recent decades. Explore more and get involved in the CBC.

Climate Map

Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect the range of the Wood Thrush. Learn even more in Audubon’s Survival By Degrees project.

Climate Threats Facing the Wood Thrush

Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.

Explore More

Murals, Art, and Culture

Artists throughout history and across the U.S. have captured this bird in murals, books, and museum hangings. See what they’ve done: ¡Atención!

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